Ball and socket connection



C. HARRIS BALL AND SOCKET CONNECTION Filed July 5, 1929 July 17, 1934.

ATTORNEY-5 R O T N E V m Patented July 17, 1934 uirsnsr'rss PATENT rrics BALL AND SOCKET CONNECTION Cleo. Harris, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Thompson Products, Incorporated, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 5, 1929, Serial No. 375,955 2 Claims. (Cl. 287-430) This invention relates to connecting rods such The invention described in general comprises a as tie rods, drag links, steering rods and the like, socket casing disposed on the end of a rod conand is particularly directed to improvements in taining a pair of bearing blocks, the bearing the socket or hub at the end of the rod for re blocks disposed one at each side of a ball formed 5 ceiving the ball end of a crank arm or lever of on the end of a crank arm and disposed within any sort, The ball connector is journalled withthe socket. The socket of the casing is conical in the socket in-ball seats or bearing elements, as to two sides against which corresponding faces and the improvement herein set forth is primaof the seats respectively engage, and open at the rily for the purpose of providing efficient means large end wherein a plate spring is mounted for automatically taking up any play created by against the ends of the ball seats. 54

wear of the ball seats. The pounding and vibra- The respective seats are forced down the intion of the parts and the natural rotative moveclined interior surfaces of the socket by means ment of the ball on the seats, constantly grind of the spring so that the take-up thrusts directed down the metal due to frictional contact, and from the inclined surfaces are imparted substanunless the seats are maintained under pressure tially toward the center of the ball. The spring l0 in even contact at all points about the ball, the provides a constant pressure, being under com- Wear is unequal and the contact surfaces of the pression against the seats, and the inclination of ball and seats lose their corresponding cooperatthe casing is relatively slight so that there is ing contours. very little force imparted from the ball to force It is therefore an object of this invention to the wedges outwardly or along the inclined surprovide a ball and socket connection wherein faces, this slight force being overcome by the the seats are constantly urged against the ball, comparatively light spring used. and the adjustment or take-up thrusts imposed Referring to the drawing, the rod is indicated on the connection are properly directed to cause at 5 and the socket element or casing 6 is screw- 25 the, otherwise detrimental, contact of the ball threaded on the end of the rod. The casing proand seats to grind the surfaces correspondingly vides a tubular portion '7 extending at right and to true even seating contour. The ball seats angles from the socket portion, this tubular and socket are so related as to cooperate in diportion being the, internally threaded, attachrecting the seats for achieving this uniform coning end of the socket. A nut 8 is provided on the tact pressure for wear compensation. rod engaging the end of the tubular portion of It is another object to provide a device and arthe casing to secure the same in adjusted posirangement of ball seats for automatically taking tion on the rod. up for wear which prevents any loosening or back The crank arm 9 having the ball end 10 premovement of the ball seats. viously described, is inserted through the casing I 35 Another object relates to the general form of through the open or large end thereof, the shank 9B;

the socket, the relation of the ball seats thereto, of the crank arm traversing an aperture 11 in and the mounting of the automatic adjustment the base of the socket. Two of the casing walls means within the socket casing. are inclined and the ball seats l212 are dis- Further objects and advantages will be more posed against the respective walls mentioned. fully set forth in a description of the accompany- Each ball seat 12, as illustrated in Figure 4, is v 40 ing drawing, in which: formed from a single piece of plate and "provides a Figure 1 is a side view of the improved socket. ball seating face having a concave depression 13 Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22, therein for encircling a portion of one side of the Figure 1, the View being taken on the plane of ball. The plate has its edges turned back and 45 the ball crank or arm connected to the socket of inwardly, the inward flanges 14 thus formed bethe reach rod and illustrating in detail the relaing inclined relative to the face of the seat, the tion of the bearing seats to the walls of the casinclination corresponding to the inclination of ing and the disposition of the take-up spring relthe socket casing walls. ative to the ball seats. A slight clearance is left between the open end 50 Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3, of the casting and the ball seats when they are Figure 2, further illustrating the form of the primarily set about the ball. Within this clearsocket and the arrangement of the ball seats ance space aplate spring 15 is mounted, the plate therein. spring having its ends sprung down and set with- Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the ball in the casing against the bearing blocks by means seats. of pins 16 traversing the straight side walls of the lit surfaces takes place, so that the curved portions at which the bending takes place engage the outer edges of the ball seats under spring pressureinduced by the retaining pins, and the tendencyof the central portion of the-spring plate is to leave the initial securance pin 1.7, it being under-- stood that this pin is principally for the purpose of assembly, but being left in position to guard against outward accidental displacement.

The plate is formed to provide inner edges 18 which engage outwardly inclined-end'surfaces 19 of thebearing" seats. The action of the spring therefor asthe center of'the spring moves in or bows, is-to-create a camming or sliding action of the edges down the inclined surfaces 19, which hasa tendency to urge the outer or spring engaged'. endsof the ball-seats toward'the ball and tocompensate for the slightly greater contact and-pressure induced at the-wedge points or' forward ends of the bearing blocks.

As' the wedge-shaped'beari'ng blocks-are forced deeper into the casingwith the ball, the thrusts from the ball acting at right anglesto the-bearing block contact faces are incapableof loosening the blocks and the slight force imparted'axially of the crank arm; due to the engagement of the inclined wedge surfaces, is overcome and bal ancedby the spring. The movement and vibration of the parts; in instances wherethey are part of a vehicle, constantly firmly disposes the seats about-the ball.

In many automotive installations the socket casing ishungon the ball (see the position shown in the drawmg), and'the entire weight of the reach rod is on its respective ball connections. The combined weight of the rod and socket casings is considerable and due to the force of gravity acting thereon, the result is to urge the casing against the seats and ball, this force coacting with the force or action of the spring which is directed upwardly against the seats and ball, thereby providing. counteracting forces jointly aiding in maintaining the ball and socket connection in constantly snugly adjusted position. The spring is, therefore, not vital to the assembly of the. rod for maintaining the seats against the ball and easing; but'may be displaced or broken without resultant disconnection of the ball and socket joint. Therefore, in the case of accidental displacement: or breakage, the safety feature arising from the gravity induced and maintained connection is evident.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A ball and socket joint, comprising, a socket casinghaving inclined walls and an open large end; an arm having: a'ballv end disposed in said casing, a pair of bearing blocks surrounding said ball; and'each engaging a respective inclined wall of saidcasing; a plate spring covering the open side-of the casing, said plate spring bowed-and sprung against the bearing blocks, means for retaining the platein position, and said spring'having cam surfacesthereon engaging inclined sur-- faces ofthe bearing blocks-to urgethe blocks inwardlytoward the ball.

2;. A ball;and socketijoint, comprisinga socket having. inclined; walls" and an open large end, an'arm having alball end disposed in said casing; .a pair'off bearing blocks surrounding: said ball and each: engaging? arespectiire inclined: wall of: saidlcasing, a platespringicovering the open sidetof the casing, saidplate spring bowed and sprung against the bearing blocks, and cross pins extending'acrossthe open casing side for retaining-the outer ends of the plate in position whereby said blocksare'urged against the ball.

CLEO; HARRIS. 

